Going ahead with ear tubes

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Well, we took our daughter to her ENT on Thursday & we went ahead & scheduled the surgery for this Thursday. We feel that it is the best choice, & we have exhausted all of our options. Shes had 9 ear infections since last Dec.

Even though I know we are making the right choice Im very nervous about my baby having to have anesthesia. The doctor explained to me that she will only be under for like 10 minutes & the surgery is very simple…Im just nervous.

If your child has had this surgery can you ease my nerves.

Thanks
 
My son had both eyes operated on (due to stabismus/ambliopia/Lazy Eye type problem) when he was two years old. He was in surgery for about 30-45 minutes. In the days and weeks before the surgery, I was so concerned about the whole thing, and of course I wondered if my son would become blind. This is mainly because I read a lot of information over the internet that was very “worst case scenario.” As a result, deep down, I had so little trust towards my son’s doctor. When my little boy got out, I thought, “The doctor was absolutely right. What was I so worried about?”
 
My son had surgeries when he was 4 mos, 10 mos, 3 yrs. and 6 yrs. old–one of which included inserting ear tubes. They spared him many ear infections and fell out on their own with natural growth about a year later. The anesthesia is never easy to consider, but take comfort in knowing this is a VERY common procedure for the doctors to perform and the brief time under is of no long-lasting consequence to the child.
 
I am certain you will be happy with your choice to have the tubes put in. This is about as simple procedure as you can have done. It’s probably the word “surgery” that scares you. My son has had it done several times and was back to normal later that day. I’m not sure if it’s available where you are, but they even flavor the anesthesia. Chocolate was my sons choice. May God look after your little one.
 
We let the doctor keep prolonging things by keeping our child on antibiotics for a year that still did not clear up the infections. Finally we decided to go against his wishes and took our child to an ENT. Once the tubes were in, all was fine. We kicked ourselves for not doing it sooner. For the next two children we didn’t wait. All went fine.

It is my understanding that the anesthesia is of the type (please ask the anesthesiologist, you should meet him before the surgery) that doesn’t fully put the child under. It is safer than the type that does. For us, the doctor was usually done in 5 minutes.
 
We had tubes put in my daughter’s ears a few years ago, and she went from having several ear infections per year to none. She was in and out in less than 40 minutes, and we were home in time to eat breakfast.
 
Our youngest had it done two years ago at around 18 months. He’s about to have it done again because they fell out which is the way it usually works for kids with chronic fluid problems. We’re really glad we had it done. He didn’t have one ear infection until they fell out recently.

I understand you being nervous about your little one going under anesthesia. Ours has been under four times. We’re always nervous until we get to the recovery room. But don’t worry they (Dr. RN etc. ) know what they’re doing.
 
My daughter had the surgery 2 years ago and it was the best thing we could have done for her. She was 5 at the time and was constantly having ear infections and running 105 degree fevers! She has not had an ear infection since then, even thought the tubes fell out a year ago (this is expected). Once the tubes fall out, there may not be a need to put them back in. As the child grows (as in the case of my daughter), the problem sometimes corrects itself. Due to the infections, my daughter suffered some temporary hearing loss. Her hearing is now fine.

The surgery was no big deal, but I sympathize with your concern about her being put under. The whole thing really only takes about 10 minutes, but I totally understand your being nervous. My wife and I were terrified!

I will pray for you all on Thursday when I say my morning prayers.

God Bless,
Gary
 
Here here! The is also the case for my son. Several ear infections and the antibiotics don’t cut it anymore - plus a full year on antibiotics cannot be good for anyone.

Best decision we made.
He does have to still be careful in the water and must wear earplugs or he will get swimmers ear easily. That is a problem and a hassle but manageable.
 
kate(name removed by moderator):
Well, we took our daughter to her ENT on Thursday & we went ahead & scheduled the surgery for this Thursday. We feel that it is the best choice, & we have exhausted all of our options. Shes had 9 ear infections since last Dec.

Even though I know we are making the right choice Im very nervous about my baby having to have anesthesia. The doctor explained to me that she will only be under for like 10 minutes & the surgery is very simple…Im just nervous.

If your child has had this surgery can you ease my nerves.

Thanks
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My daughter went through having ear infections all the time. When we went to get her evaluated to have the tubes place it was not recommended (there was no fluid or infection) because this was the start of her not having them at all. This was the period where all was well. Then she started getting them consistently. She did not have the tubes placed until she was 6. Looking back I really wished I had done it sooner. RIght now she is classified as developmentally delayed. She is in special education and is working with a speech pathologist, reading and math help.

Hopefully I can describe this well. In the beginning of her life when learning is done on multiple levels hers was stilted due to the infections and fluid in her ears. Imagine hearing every word spoken as if you were under water. Of course things sound disorted so you speak what you hear. This is turn affects other things. For a while progress was made for her until the ear infections resumed. It was evident when she went to Kindergarten that she was behind her peers due to how she experienced her world.

She has been receiving help for the past two years and since the placement of the tubes tremendous strides in progress have been seen. As time goes by and her brain learns things correctly I believe she will catch up or exceed her peers. If she doesn’t I can accept that too and will continuously reinforce that she is special in her own way. My prayers are for the former but as always it is what God wills for her life.

The surgery is quite simple and quick. She was a little groggy coming out of the anesthesia but that is expected. One reaction that may alarm you but is common is that a lot of them cry coming out of it. Thought I give you a head’s up in case this is not told to you. A couple of hours after the surgery she was running around as if nothing happened. Please keep up with the med’s because it is easier to keep pain at bay. It is difficult to manage pain once it becomes intense without resorting to stronger measures.

I remember I was quite apprehensive about my dd going under. I hope that this calmed some of your fears and answered some of your questions.

Please let us know how it went.

🙂 Melissa
 
I had 10 sets of tubes in my ears when I was younger and now have lots of scar tissue. The tubes didn’t do me much good because my infections were soooo bad they just pushed the tubes right out. Now my second child when he was 10 months old had tubes put in, not because of his infections, most children outgrow them by the time they are 2 or 3, and I personally think it’s better to wait until then to have them put in because of the scars and thing they do to the drum. Anyway my son had them in at 10mos because he had fluid that wouldn’t come out from behind the drum and was said to be hearing impaired because of this. So in his case the tubes helped. We had friend whose child’s tubes didn’t fall out and the drum started forming new tissue over the top, they had to be surgically removed. My 3 child had an ear infection for 12wks nothing would get rid of it, I put breast milk in his ear 3 times a day for 3 days and he hasn’t had an infection in over 4 yrs. Now my fourth child had an earinfection about every 3 months he would get a pretty bad one, they always healed so good you never would have thought he had an infection to start with. After 2 yrs he just out grew them, hasn’t had one in about 9 months. So if tubes have to be done so be it. The surgery is very simple and short, took them a total of 15min and then a little recovery time and we were on our way home, nothing to be scared of. Now colonoscopy on a 3 yr old is all together different, but that’s another story.
 
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